We don’t want to forget the great humanitarian deeds of the past, but we wanted to clean up our blog. So this is a consolidation of the late 2020 Humanitarian Highlights.
November 5, CUs in the Limelight
Another #HumanitarianHighlight is here, and we are so pleased the day has finally come! Have you ever wondered what more you can do to help create a difference within the community? Sometimes thinking outside the box can be very beneficial to those in need. If you know a credit union that has gone above and beyond in making a #CUdifference, use our hashtag #HumanitarianHighlight to let us know about it, so we can give them a shout-out! Now on to the CUs in the limelight.
American Southwest Credit Union
American Southwest CU has donated $10,000 to the Chiricahua Community Health Foundation in an effort to help with COVID relief and vaccines!
Black Hills Federal Credit Union
We first want to start by saying, WOW! Black Hills FCU took the time to sew 300 masks to be given in partnership with Masks for Rapid City, who will then distribute the masks to elementary school students from Rapid City Area Schools!
Eagle Community Credit Union
This incredible credit union announced 4 of their 2020 scholarship winners and awarded them $4,000 each to put toward their college expenses! Congratulations to all!
ORNL Federal Credit Union
The employees of the Bearden Branch of ORNL FCU took the time to collect non-perishable food items to be donated to the Blessing Box at the Bearden United Methodist Church. The Bearden Blessing box is a cabinet placed outside the church to help those who are in need of non-perishable items. Thank you to all who took the time to donate and make a difference in someone’s life!
Community 1st Credit Union
In September, the Community 1st Credit Union Foundation was able to award $25,000 to the Jefferson County Kids Early Childhood Learning Center in an effort to help with the capital campaign to build a new facility for additional childcare spaces and resources.
“We understand and fully support the impact this new Early Childhood Learning Center will have in Fairfield and Jefferson County,” says Greg Hanshaw, CEO of Community 1st Credit Union. “Partnering with local organizations to promote community betterment is really what our credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’ is all about. We look forward to watching this project unfold soon.” KTVO
ELGA Credit Union
Congratulations to ELGA CU for raising funds through their annual Ginormous Tent Sale. The total donation came out to $2,500! The money will be helping and supporting Catholic Charities’ three soup kitchens and counseling programs.
“This annual sale couldn’t happen without the support of ELGA associates and our community volunteers,” said ELGA CEO Karen Church. “It’s truly a miracle to see so many different organizations come together to make this sale happen. This was our fifth sale, and together we’ve raised more than $85,000 to benefit the programs at Catholic Charities.” The Davison Index
First Basin Credit Union
Caring about their community, the First Basin team was up early to help clean the community around them. They were able to pick up many bags of trash! Way to go #CUfamily!
November 12, The Season of Giving
Happy Humanitarian Highlight Day, everyone! We’re only one day away from Friday, so hang in there! We hope you all enjoy your weekend, and most of all, we hope you enjoy reading all the amazing deeds our #CUfamily has been up to lately! If you know of a credit union that has positively impacted its community, tag us and let us know so we can give them a shoutout! It is truly the season of giving in the credit union community.
Mid Oregon Credit Union
Mid Oregon Credit Union was recognized by the Credit Union National Association and honored with the Alphonse Desjardins Youth and Adult Financial Education Award. They received the award for their Bite of Reality program, which teaches high school students about budgeting and money management. Awesome job, Mid Oregon CU!
City & County Credit Union
This past month, City & County Credit Union was on a “People Helping People” mission and was able to make donations and volunteer for various programs. They made 440 snack packs for We Can Ride, Inc., 330 senior care bags for Help At Your Door, 26 tie blankets for the Ronald McDonald House, and beautified 2 local parks! Wow, what an achievement!
Meridian Credit Union
Meridian Credit Union pledged to triple any donations made to one of two great organizations, including Food4Kids, and help those in need during COVID-19! This was part of their Donation Match Program!
In support of the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, The Credit Union pledged to match any donations made as part of their Credit Unions for Kids mission!
United Federal Credit Union
As a commitment to both their members and communities, United Federal Credit Union visited the Women & Children’s Center of the Sierra with a donation check of $1,000. United FCU was extremely excited to support this organization that helps women rise out of poverty.
Hometown Credit Union
Hometown Credit Union hosted a “Miracle Jeans Week” for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, raising over $700 with the help of their community.
World Kindness Week
When it comes to compliant forms and disclosures for credit unions, there is Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc. For more than 37 years, we have been the ones supplying the best forms for credit unions, from membership documents to the forms for all lending needs. It is World Kindness Week 2020!
When it comes to building a community, there are credit unions that are always finding ways to show the #CUDifference and help people open their eyes to a credit union with their many humanitarian efforts.
Let’s celebrate World Kindness Day and the #creditunions that know how vital such kindness is! Since 1998, this holiday has spread across the globe. From a day to a week, we celebrate every November as a chance to unite under a united flag of kindness.
There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate this week. You can write random notes of kindness for others, even strangers. Help do errands for those in need. Cook a meal for a loved one. Even a hug is enough to show others that you care. It doesn’t have to be a huge action to show a little concern.
To see some great #HumanitarianHighlights where credit unions donate time, money, and other resources to help spread kindness every day, you need to go to our Credit Union Blog! Did you do anything for World Kindness Week 2020?
November 19, Fall into Good Fortune
Happy Thursday, everyone! How are you all doing today? Today’s #HumanitarianHighlight shows the many remarkable actions that credit unions have taken to help out their communities in any way possible. Even during a pandemic, many credit union staff and members have taken a stand to check up on their local businesses, helping them out, making sure different organizations still have food to hand out to people in need, etc. When looking at all the acts the credit union community has done, it truly brings a tear to our eyes to see that they are all trying to help each other out. That is why we love the #CUfamily so much! If you know of a credit union that has positively impacted its community, tag us and let us know so we can give them a shoutout! Time to fall into good fortune for those in the CU community.
DuPage Credit Union
Not only does DuPage CU care for its members, but it also has the biggest hearts in caring for the community around them! During their shred & electronic recycling event, the credit union was able to collect 12 pounds of paper and 12 pallet boxes of electronics!
So, what does that equate to?
(Information is taken from DuPage Credit Union’s Facebook post)
- 101 Trees SAVED
- 41,625 Gallons of Water SAVED
- 24,380 Kilowatts of Energy SAVED
- 357 Pounds of Pollutants Kept from the Atmosphere
- 29.7 Cubic Yards of a Landfill SAVED
Clearview Federal Credit Union
Let’s give Clearview FCU a round of applause for its hard work and determination in ensuring that everyone in their community is taken care of. During their Virtual Clearview Cares Day, employees from the credit union donated to their partners, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and Westmoreland County Food Bank! The total amount raised by the staff and the organization came out to $2,950! Their 2020 fundraising total has now reached $12,000, which then equals 60,000 meals! Absolutely incredible, #CUfamily!
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: “We exist simply because people in our community struggle with meeting a basic human need—having enough to eat. The mission of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is to feed people in need and mobilize our community to eliminate hunger. But we can’t do it alone.”
Westmoreland County Food Bank: [sic]“By acquiring food through local donations and government food assistance programs (State Food Purchase Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program) WCFB serves the community in several ways…
WAYS WE SERVE:
- We provide food to meal programs, soup kitchens, food pantries, emergency shelters, and child care programs
- We provide the means for donors to put their food to good use while gaining tax credits
- We keep perfectly good food that can’t be sold (because of damaged packaging or a close code date) from becoming garbage in landfills
- We believe that by pooling together all of the community resources, we can make a significant difference in the fight against hunger.”
OE Federal Credit Union
Not letting the pandemic stop them from supporting their community, OE FCU’s employees went to the Elko Firefighters Association with care packages containing handcrafted blankets to help keep the firefighters warm!
Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions
This just brought a huge smile to our faces! In their partnership with Feeding America, the Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions had a Stock the Shelves drive-thru event, and from all of their donations, 20,149 meals were raised for families who have been struggling to put food on the table for their families. Remarkable job, everyone!
Feeding America: “The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food and end hunger. Donors, staff, and volunteers all play an important role in our efforts to end hunger in the United States.”
PCM Credit Union
Back in September, PCM held its 6th Annual Christmas in July-September Golf Outing for Children’s Miracle Network! With the help of 60 golfers and 19 sponsors, the total amount raised went well over $19,000, which will all go to local children in need.
Dirigo Federal Credit Union
Through their Our Seeds of Hope Project, Dirigo FCU donated to 5 different nursing homes that needed many items. The credit union was very pleased to take 10 bird feeders to the residents and staff of Marshwood Center!
December 31, The Last Step
We’re back! Before the last step, you need to take the first step.
Today is brand new #HumanitarianHighlight! We hope you all have been doing well and staying healthy! We are truly lucky and thankful to be part of such an incredible community. The #CUfamily is one of a kind, exemplifying the meaning of #CUdifference and #CUmovement. If you know of a credit union that has gone above and beyond for its community, please message us so we can give them a shout-out on all of our social media accounts!
IAA Federal Credit Union
Helping to support their community, IAA FCU partnered up with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to donate $7,500 to Midwest Food Bank! Outstanding job, everyone!
“As a faith-based organization, it is the mission of Midwest Food Bank to share the love of Christ by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and throughout the world and providing disaster relief; all without discrimination. Our vision is to provide industry-leading food relief to those in need while feeding them spiritually.
Our story starts in 2003 when the Kieser family acted on their faith to share their blessings. They turned a barn on their family farm into a distribution site for local food pantries. Soon, they realized the need was greater and there was room for growth. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the valuable work of our volunteers, and most importantly, the blessings of God, Midwest Food Bank now shares the blessing worldwide. More than 4 million people were impacted in 2019. Midwest Food Bank currently distributes over $23 million worth of food to over 2,000 non-profit organizations each month. This is done from our ten locations in Illinois, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, East Africa, and Haiti.” Midwest Food Bank
Affinity Federal Credit Union
Always taking that extra step to help someone in need, during Affinity FCU’s give-back week, one of their branches (New Haven Branch) took the time to volunteer for a fall cleanup at New Reach’s Life Haven Shelter! Thank you for all of your efforts in taking care of your community #CUfamily!
Fox Communities Credit Union
Knowing that their Stock the Shelves campaign will be looking different this year because of COVID-19, Fox Communities CU is more determined than ever to make this campaign the biggest they have had yet. Since many families have been impacted by the pandemic, campaigns like these are crucial to help our many families who have trouble providing food on the table.
“I can’t believe how many people I’m hearing from who have had a job forever, and all of [sic] a sudden their job isn’t there, or they’re making a lot less money,” she said. “If we can at least make sure they have full bellies when they go to bed at night, that could be a huge part of what we’re doing.” Lynn Marie Hopfensperger, Development Officer
Head to the credit union’s website for more information about the event!
1st United Services Credit Union
Understanding the struggles of families all over the country, not having the funds to put food on the table, 1st United Services CU is matching their virtual food drive donations up to $10,000! Thank you all for always being there for your community!
“Due to COVID-19, food has become more of a necessity now than ever before, according to Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB). And every dollar donated to the ACCFB equates to $7 worth of healthy food for a local family. That’s why 1st United has moved its food drive online this year and will be matching monetary donations made by members, staff, and the community.” CUinsight
Royal Credit Union
Caring about their community, the foundation at Royal CU pledged $500,000 toward the $7 million expansion of the Eau Claire public library!
“The Foundation focuses on large-scale, capital projects that help build community and create the spaces where people come together. Libraries are community gathering places that offer resources for everyone. We are proud to support the expansion of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library and appreciate the many ways it benefits the Eau Claire community.” RCU Foundation President John Sackett
Travis Credit Union
How outstanding is this? The Travis Credit Union Foundation raised more than $1 million for the COVID-19 Relief Initiative. This was then MATCHED by Travis CU for a total of $2 million! So, where will the funds be going? Well, the funds will be distributed to 83 local community organizations, which will then provide many resources and services to families and individuals who were impacted by the pandemic.
“We focused on where we know funds would immediately recirculate and strengthen communities, creating authentic community impact and financial wellness. We will continue seeking more resources to help non-profits survive and innovate as we all prepare for the ‘new normal’ in the aftermath of COVID-19.” Damian Alarcon, President of the Travis Credit Union Foundation
I-C Federal Credit Union
As part of the credit union’s “Empower – A Community Connection” initiative, I-C FCU donated $4,000 to Ginny’s Helping Hands & Food Pantry of Leominster!
Quotes are taken from the Sentinel and Enterprise article:
“We are very grateful to IC Credit Union for this generous donation,” said Susan Chalifoux Zephir, executive director of Ginny’s Helping Hand. “This will go a long way in helping us provide fresh, nutritious food to our food pantry families and ensure that no one goes hungry during these challenging times.”
“In times like these, especially, outreach programs like food pantries need our help,” said Holly Sanchez, senior vice president of Human Resources at IC, “and we are humbled by their commitment to serve.”
(Note: these are older blog entries and have been edited since originally posted.)
Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc.
If you would like to be featured in a Humanitarian Highlight or have any comments or questions about our business, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or by phone at (800) 537-9598.
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